Welcome. You are currently viewing the forum as a guest which does not give you access to all the great features at GolfWRX such as viewing all the images, interacting with members, access to all forums and eligiblility to win free giveaways. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free. Create a FREE GolfWRX account here.

Heading to Tampa in a couple weeks. Was going to play TPC but I guess its closed for an event. Where else should I play that’s not more than a 40min drive from Ybor (so Worldwoods / Streamsong are too far)?

I went to school there and as a student it wasn't worth the $10 for me to play it. It was the only course I had ever chipped from the "green" and I did it regularly because they were so bad.

Bloomingdale? If it’s still managed by Fore Golf you can and should do much better. Eagle Creek in Lakeland would be a push with travel times even going against the flow but if you could swing it is always fun. Agree with Cypress Creek, great little gem.

I just moved in May but Bloomingdale was not in good shape when I left and had been steadily going downhill for past couple years which is a shame because I like the layout quite a bit. Cypress Creek is the best public track near Tampa including TPC imo. Heritage Isles is good for the price

Less than 40 min from Ybor I would look at Lake Jovita and The Club at Eaglebrooke in Lakeland but they are definitely on the cusp of 40 min from Ybor.

I played Lake Jovita the day after they hosted stage 2 in Q-school a few years ago (maybe a decade or so?). It was really nice, but they had it set up harder than normal. The pro said greens were at 12.5 and the rough was up (and grown in a little). It was a fun course i thought.

You got lucky you can't get out at TPC. Was not impressed when I was down there in February. It's a shame world woods is too far, that place is awesome, but I think they're overseeding now and may be cart path only.

I’d skip the claw. It hasn’t been in good conditions in years. It’s a stomping ground for drunk college hacks or old hags and rounds can be miserably long. Slow play is unbearable this time of the year at public courses FYI

If I'd drive 1 hour then it's streamsong or Lakewood National and it's not even close. But that sums up the nice public courses in the area.

Everything else is forgettable. Tampa has a better private scene.

Those times are assuming no traffic. I lived between fox hollow and innisbrook and during rush hour it would take 1.25 to 1.5 hours to get to Ybor. Although that was 5+ years ago, and I know some roads have been updated (like US 19).

But I second what someone else above said. Squeeze out the extra 40 min round trip and go to world woods or streamsong (I've never played it as I left FL before it was built).

Thanks for the info! Huge help as always. No real budget or specific things I'm looking for, just to play some place nice without driving too far. Leaving toward Cypress Creek based on whats been said.

Nah. Pine barren Is of no architectural importance just like most Fazio courses.

Rolling oaks is the better of the two. And in the brooksville area southern hills by Pete dye blows that course out of the water.

I’ve played a quite a few private top 100. My opinions have some merits.

Lakewood National is that good. Redans like greens. Blind tee shots. Blind approach shots. Angles into the greens. And way better conditions. Better drainage. Better experience. They actually spread the tee time out instead of over booking.

Lmao are you seriously asking me about the opens rota? Royal dornoch actually blows St. Andrews and every rota course out of the water. It’s not even close.

Nah. Pine barren Is of no architectural importance just like most Fazio courses.

Rolling oaks is the better of the two. And in the brooksville area southern hills by Pete dye blows that course out of the water.

I've played a quite a few private top 100. My opinions have some merits.

Lakewood National is that good. Redans like greens. Blind tee shots. Blind approach shots. Angles into the greens. And way better conditions. Better drainage. Better experience. They actually spread the tee time out instead of over booking.

Southern Hills is solid. You playing some top 100 courses makes your opinion more valid than golfdigest, golf.com, golf course gurus etc.. Tom Doak, one of the best modern architects in the world gave Pine Barrens layout the same score as Yale, Carnoustie, Turnberry and other "greats."

Oh you definitely lost it. Putting pine barren on the same level as Yale and carnos. I’ve heard it all. I’m no sheep that listens to Tom Doak like he’s the gospel. Fazio can’t even be on the same level as raynor.

Oh you definitely lost it. Putting pine barren on the same level as Yale and carnos. I've heard it all. I'm no sheep that listens to Tom Doak like he's the gospel. Fazio can't even be on the same level as raynor.

I was just using Doaks opinion as an example, of someone whose opinion may actually "have merit". Raynor isn't really a modern arch. so I don't really get the comparison. I would never compare the 2, 1 is still designing courses, 1 died a century ago. It seems like you just don't like Fazio courses, which is fair.

I play Nona every Wednesday during lunch time. I respect good looking courses as well. Defending a Fazio course and then trying to insinuate that I may not like open rota courses because they brown and fast is a bit backwards.

I play Nona every Wednesday during lunch time. I respect good looking courses as well. Defending a Fazio course and then trying to insinuate that I may not like open rota courses because they brown and fast is a bit backwards.

I made that statement because of your love for Copperhead and your statement that Pine Barrens is scruffy. I assumed you were one of those who thinks a course is only good if it is green and plush. Sorry for the assumption.

Nah. Pine barren Is of no architectural importance just like most Fazio courses.

Rolling oaks is the better of the two. And in the brooksville area southern hills by Pete dye blows that course out of the water.

I’ve played a quite a few private top 100. My opinions have some merits.

Lakewood National is that good. Redans like greens. Blind tee shots. Blind approach shots. Angles into the greens. And way better conditions. Better drainage. Better experience. They actually spread the tee time out instead of over booking.

Lmao are you seriously asking me about the opens rota? Royal dornoch actually blows St. Andrews and every rota course out of the water. It’s not even close.

Since when are blind shots a desirable architectural feature? Sure some great courses have them - the Old Course perhaps the best example. Augusta has none. In public tracks they tend to slow play.

That said, Lakewood National is a really good track. Agree Rolling Oaks is as good or better than Pine Barrens, but I would go to Wiorld Woods for either track than Lakewood. Yes, conditions can be spotty at World Woods, but It’s pretty unique and I think we should encourage places like it that offer solid golf options at (very) reasonable prices.

If you can do streamsong do it. If your only playing one round the red course is my pick (black if that’s not available.) Pine barren would be my second recommendation for visitors. For visitors playing just one round, it’s more fun with its quirks. Up north of ybor, Fox hollow and Jovia north are good. South Lakewood, waterlefe and esplanade are your best options.